Digital record and replay binoculars

ABSTRACT

A combined binocular viewing and digital recording device includes a binocular telescope wherein the binocular telescope includes a pair of monocular components (12a,b). Each monocular component (12a,b) has an image viewing end and an image receiving end. The monocular components (12a,b) include a focusing mechanism (18) to adjust images viewed through the image viewing end of the monocular components. Also, the device includes a digital video camera (15) mounted to and displaced between each monocular component. The camera includes a receiving lens (21) for receiving images with the camera lens&#39; line-of-sight approximately parallel to the line-of-sight of the monocular components. The camera further includes random access memory (RAM) (56) and a display device (16). Processors (46, 48, 50, 52, 54) are also included within the camera for generating compressed digital video images of the received images, storing the compressed digital video images in the RAM, and displaying the received or stored images on the display device. The camera includes control mechanisms (26, 28, 30, 32) for controlling the generating, storing, and displaying of the video images.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED CLAIMS

This application is a filed Wrapper Continuation of prior U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 08/680,367, filed on Jul. 15, 1996.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to binoculars, and more particularly relates to adigital video camera incorporated into a one-piece, hand-held binocularunit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For the general public, recording images as they happen has become anational pastime. Camera and video recording technology has beenincorporated into many commonly known products, such as microscopes,telescopes and binoculars.

Recording of video images from a common set of binoculars allows theuser to identify and record events at great distances. U.S. Pat. No.4,067,027 to Yamazaki discloses a binocular telescope containing acamera for photographing object scenes through the binocular lenses.Yamazakils invention is useful for users that wish to capture stillimages, but fails to allow the user to capture full video images.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,571,628 to Thornton discloses a binocular video viewingassembly having an integral object lens. The object lens observes thepredetermined field of viewing and a processing assembly converts theresulting video image into electrical video signals. The electricalvideo signals are transferred to and stored in a remotely located videorecorder. A liquid crystal display device is located within the videoviewing assembly to display playback of video recorded on the remotelylocated video recorder. Thornton's device includes two eyepieces, likebinoculars, and a single viewing lens. Although Thornton's device hasthe appearance and feel of binoculars, the single viewing lens generatesonly a single two-dimensional image, whereas binoculars allow the userto view a three-dimensional image. Also, Thornton's device fails to befully portable because the video recorder is remotely located and mustaccompany the device in order to record images.

There is a need for a completely portable combined video camera andbinocular system that permits storage of a visual image. Preferably,such a device will permit three dimensional viewing of objectssimultaneous to recording of those objects.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention, a one-piece, hand-held binocular anddigital recording device is provided. The device permits simultaneousthree dimensional viewing of an object through the binoculars andrecording of the visual image of the object. The recording deviceconverts the video image to digital video signals and records thedigital video signals in a memory storage device within the hand-heldunit. The recorded video signal may be viewed on a display that is alsolocated on the hand-held unit.

More particularly described, the present invention provides a combinedbinocular viewing and digital recording device. The device includesbinoculars having a pair of monocular components, each monocularcomponent having an image viewing end and an image receiving end. Themonocular components include a focusing mechanism to adjust imagesviewed through the image viewing end of the monocular components. Also,the device includes a digital video camera mounted to the binoculars.The camera includes a receiving lens for receiving images within thecamera lens' line-of-sight and aligned approximately parallel to theline-of-sight of the monocular components. The camera further includesrandom access memory (RAM) and a display device. A processor is alsoincluded within the camera for generating compressed digital videoimages of the received images, storing the compressed digital videoimages in the RAM, and displaying the received or stored images on thedisplay device. Finally, the camera includes control mechanisms forcontrolling the generating, storing, and displaying of the video images.

In accordance with other aspects of this invention, the control meansincludes forward and reverse viewing controls. The viewing controlspreferably are multiple speed viewing controls.

In accordance with further aspects of this invention, the control meansincludes tint, brightness, and color controls.

In accordance with still other aspects of this invention, the cameraincludes a removable storage medium for storing the compressed videoimages.

In accordance with still further aspects of this invention, the camerafurther includes a data transmission mechanism for transmitting videoimages from the camera to a remote source.

In accordance with yet other aspects of this invention, the display is aliquid crystal display.

In accordance with still yet other aspects of this invention, thedisplay is rotatable so that it may be viewed from different directions.

In accordance with other aspects of this invention, comprises a solarpower converter for converting solar rays into electrical energy forpowering the digital video camera, wherein the solar power converter isremotely located from the digital video camera and electricallyconnected to the digital video camera

As will be readily appreciated from the foregoing summary, the inventionprovides for compactly storing and reviewing of recorded video imageswhile viewing those images through a binocular telescope.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of thisinvention will become more readily appreciated as the same becomesbetter understood by reference to the following detailed description,when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the one piece, hand-held, combined binocularsand video recording unit incorporating the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional top view of the unit of FIG. 1, with parts removedfor detail;

FIG. 3 is a sectional rear view of the unit of FIG. 1, with partsremoved for detail;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram displaying the processing and control featuresof the unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the unit of FIG. 1, with an added solar powerconverter;

FIG. 6 is a sectional rear view of the unit of FIG. 1 with an optionaldisplay positioning feature;

FIG. 7 is a top view of a one piece, hand-held, combined threedimensional video image recording unit;

FIG. 8 is a sectional top view of the unit of FIG. 7 with parts removedfor detail;

FIG. 9 is a top view of the unit of FIG. 1, with an added, remote solarpower converter; and

FIG. 10 is a top view of a three-dimensional recording unit as in FIG.7, with an external display added to the top.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference numeralsrepresent like parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 sets forth aone piece, hand-held unit 10 incorporating the present invention.Briefly described, the hand-held unit 10 includes conventionalbinoculars 12 combined with a miniature digital video camera 15. Adisplay, preferably a liquid crystal display (LCD) 16, is mounted on topof the binoculars 12. The hand-held unit 10 is designed to permitsimultaneous three dimensional viewing of an object through thebinoculars 12 and recording of the visual image of the object by thedigital video camera 15. The recorded image may then be viewed on theLCD 16.

The binoculars 12 include two monocular components 12a and 12bpositioned parallel to each other. Each monocular component 12a, 12b,includes focus adjusting eyepieces 18 at a rear end, and magnifyinglenses (not shown, but well known in the art) at a forward end. Thefocus-adjusting eyepieces 18 and the magnifying lenses are arranged soas to permit observation of distant objects. The monocular components12a and 12b thus provide a magnified stereoscopic or 3 D image to a userof the hand-held device 10. Thus, the binoculars 12 perform a telescopicfunction. It can be appreciated to one of skill in the art that variousfocus adjusting mechanisms may be incorporated with the monocularcomponents 12a, 12b.

The digital video camera 15 is attached between the top inner portion ofthe monocular components 12a and 12b and provides lateral support andseparation of the monocular components. The digital video camera 15includes a video camera lens 21 at the forward end of the digital videocamera 15. The digital video camera 15 may be automatically focusing,such as is known in the art, or may have its focusing mechanismmechanically tied to the focus of the binoculars 12, thus allowing auser to zoom in on a specific action of interest. Top longitudinal edges22, 24 (FIG. 3) of the digital video camera 15 slope downwardly awayfrom the top of the digital video camera 15 to the upper portion of themonocular components 12a, 12b. Located at the rear end of the leftdownwardly sloping edge 22, collocated with the left monocular element12a, are a forward/play button 26 and a reverse/play button 28. On therear end of the right downwardly sloping edge, collocated with the rightmonocular element 12b, is a record button 30.

The LCD 16 is positioned on the forward half of the top surface of thedigital video camera 15. The LCD 16 is preferably mounted flush with thetop surface of the digital video camera 15. However, the LCD may also bea flip up variety 17 (FIG. 6), or may be located in any convenientlocation on the hand-held unit 10.

As shown on FIG. 2, the rear vertical edge of the digital video camera15 includes an on/off control 32, a brightness control 34, a colorcontrol 36 and a tint control 38. Each of the controls 32, 34, 36, 38are used to adjust and set the LCD 16 in a manner known in the art.Located below the controls 32, 34, 36, 38 is an opening to a personalcomputer (PC) Card receiving port 40, shown in FIG. 3, for receiving aPC Card 42 within the digital video camera 15.

A printed circuit board 44 (FIG. 2) is located internally along thelength of the digital video camera 15. The printed circuit board 44includes a processing system, which has a microprocessor 46, an imageprocessor 48, a signal processor 50, a display driver 52, ROM videologic 54, and video cache RAM 56.

A power unit, such as a rechargeable battery 58 (FIG. 3), is insertedbeneath the PC Card receiving port 40. Optional power supplies, such asa car adapter (not shown, but well known in the art), an AC powerconverter (not shown, but well known in the art), or solar (describedbelow), may also be used.

The operation of the hand-held unit 10 can be understood with referenceto the above description. A user may utilize the binoculars 12 in atraditional manner; i.e., the binoculars may be pointed at an object andthe eyepieces 18 may be manipulated so as to draw the object into focus.This feature does not require a power supply such as the battery 58.

To record an event targeted by the binoculars 12, the user depresses therecord button 30, causing the digital video camera 15 to process andstore images. The video camera lens 21 receives images and relays theimages to the image processor 48, which in turn processes the images andforwards the images to the signal processor 50. The signal processor 50digitizes the video images processed by the image processor 40 andstores the digitized video images in the video cache RAM 56. Optionally,the digitized video images may be stored on the PC card 42. Thedestination for the digitized video images of either the video cache RAM56 or the PC card 42 is determined according to control programs storedin the microprocessor 46 and associated programs in the ROM Video Logic54. The digitized video images are preferably stored in the video cacheRAM 56 and/or the PC card 42 using high speed image compressionalgorithms that provide maximum performance and storage capability.

The PC card 42 provides retaining and transferring of recorded imagesfor future review on the digital video camera 15 or other PC cardenabled devices such as a computer or a television. In addition, PCcards with PCMCIA standards support networking and telecommunicationsmay be utilized for remote storing and viewing of recorded video images.It can be appreciated to one of skill in the art that the PC card 42could be replaced by more conventional RAM if desired.

Depression of the forward/play button 26 initiates the viewing of storedimages from the video cache RAM 56 or the PC card 42. A decompressionalgorithm is utilized to restructure the compressed, digitized videoimages. The retrieved images are viewed on the LCD 16. Alternatively,the reverse button 28 may be depressed for playing stored images inreverse. The forward/play and reverse buttons 26, 28 are preferablytri-state such that each press of the buttons alters the replay flowfrom normal motion to slow motion to frozen motion. It can beappreciated by one of skill in the art that the buttons 26, 28 canperform multiple functions relating to video viewing, such as high speedscanning. A single play control button could be used in place of theforward/play and reverse buttons 26, 28 for performing similarfunctions.

FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of the process and features controlof the present invention. The processing system receives control signalsfrom the buttons 26, 28, 30, 32 and DC power from the battery 58. If theprocessing system receives a "record" control signal from the recordbutton 30, the processing system delivers recorded images to memory (thevideo cache RAM 56 or the PC card 42) for storage. If a "playback"control signal is delivered by the forward/play button 26 to theprocessing system, the processing system retrieves images from thememory (the video cache RAM 56 or the PC card 42) and sends the imagesto the display (the LCD 16). The controls 32, 34, 36, 38 and controlcircuitry (not shown, but well known in the art) provide a user controlof image processing for the display of the processed images.

FIG. 5 illustrates an alternate feature for powering the unit 10.Located on the top of the video camera 15, adjacent to the LCD 16, is asolar power converter 59, such as is known in the art. The solar powerconverter 59 converts solar energy to DC electric current to power thedigital video camera 15 and charge the rechargeable battery 58. Thesolar power converter 59 may be remotely connected, as shown by solarconverter 59a in FIG. 9, either stand alone or attachable to an objectsurface that receives a considerable amount of solar rays, such as a hatworn on a user's head, an umbrella, a backpack, etc.

FIG. 6 illustrates a LCD 17 that is rotatable on the top of the digitalvideo camera 15, while still maintaining an electrical connection to theprocessing system Preferably, the LCD 17 rotates about the rear edge ofthe LCD 17, the edge closest to the eyepieces 18, to a vertical positionfor optimal viewing by the user. Rotation of the LCD 17 through anynumber of angles up to approximately 180° from a flush mounted positionallows viewing of images without rotation of the unit 10. This featureis important if moving the unit 10 to view displayed images would causethe loss of an image targeted by the user.

FIGS. 7, 8 and 10 illustrate a three-dimensional image recording andplayback unit 60 of the present invention. The unit 60 includes acentral housing 61 mounted at its front left bottom corner to the top ofa left digital video camera 62a and at its front right bottom corner tothe top of a right video camera 62a. The unit 60 also includes eyeviewing members 64a, 64b, each mounted under the rear corners of thecentral housing 61. Each video camera 62a, 62b includes a lens 21a, 21b,an image processor 48a, 48b and a signal processor 50a, 50b. The cameralenses 62a, 62b, the image processors 48a, 48b and the signal processors50a, 50b generate two sets of digital video images, thus replacing thesingle lens and corresponding processors of the video camera 15,described above.

The eye viewing members 64a, 64b include display devices 66a, 66b anddrivers 68a, 68b. The other processing, controlling and storingcomponents within the housing are similar to those found in the previousembodiment. However, the control logic in unit 60 must be programmed toproperly store the two sets of generated digital video images andproperly retrieve and process the two sets of stored images or generatedtwo sets of digital images for display on the display devices 66a, 66b.This embodiment can also perform recording from only one camera, thusallowing for storage of a greater number of images. The displaying ofthe two sets of generated digital video images is done stereoscopically,holographically or by another commonly known two-displaythree-dimensional viewing technique. When viewed through the eye viewingmembers 64, a user sees a three-dimensional image, similar to what theuser sees through conventional binoculars.

Unit 60 further includes a zoom control button 70. As shown in FIG. 8,the zoom control button 70 includes a zoom portion 70a and an unzoomportion 70b. Depressing the zoom portion 70a of the zoom button 70causes the camera lenses 62a, 62b to increase focal length, thus zoomingin on the scene being viewed. Depressing the unzoom portion 70b of thezoom button 70 causes focal length of the camera lenses 62a, 62b todecrease, thus expanding on the scene being viewed. Focus is maintainedby an auto-focus feature.

The processing system may be a general purpose video processing systemof a type well known to those skilled in the art. Furthermore, themicroprocessor 46 and the processing system may be programmed by aprogrammer of ordinary skill to accept the inputs, perform thefunctions, and provide the outputs required for operation of the presentinvention, given the description contained herein.

The hand-held unit 10 provides a variety of features and advantages notoffered in the prior art. The hand-held unit 10 may be used similarly totypical binoculars, without using the digital video camera 15. Thedigital video camera 15 provides recording and playback of a viewedevent. All of the features of the binoculars 12 and the digital videocamera 15 are contained within the single, handheld unit 10, thusproviding a user with a completely portable system.

Although not shown, it can be contemplated that the camera portion maybe remotely located from the other components of the unit withconventional non-wire data transmission techniques performing two-waydata communication between the camera and the unit. The camera portioncan transmit video images and the unit can transmit controlling signals,such as motion signals directing motorized motion control of the camera.Locating the camera portion in hazardous environments greatly reducesthe risks to the user.

Another feature not shown is a coupling feature that allows thehand-held unit to connect to various like devices, such as computers,televisions, etc. The coupling feature provides for the datatransmission, such as downloading of stored images, powering the unit,recharging of the unit's battery, etc.

While the embodiments of the invention have been illustrated anddescribed, it will be appreciated that various changes can be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, asdefined in the appended claims. For example, a central computer cancontrol multiple units to automatically record an event from multiplepositions. In another example, image recording can be performed atvarious resolutions, black and white or color, etc. as determined bymanual or automatic control. More images can be stored when recording isperformed at lower resolutions.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. A hand-held unitcomprising:binoculars having a pair of monocular components, eachcomponent having an image viewing end and an image receiving end anddefining a line-of-sight, the binoculars providing three-dimensionalevent viewing from the image viewing end; and a digital video cameramounted to the binoculars with the camera lens' line-of-sightapproximately parallel to the lines-of-sight of the monocularcomponents, the digital video camera comprising:a receiving lens forreceiving images; a digital memory storage unit integral with thehand-held unit; a display device mounted on an exterior surface of thedigital video camera; a processing system for generating compresseddigital motion video images of said received images, storing thecompressed digital motion video images in the memory storage unit anddisplaying the received motion video images on the display device; andmeans for controlling the generating, storing and displaying of themotion video images, the digital video camera and the display devicebeing arranged relative to the binoculars so that the following modes ofoperation are possible: mode 1--an event can be recorded contemporaneouswith a user viewing in three dimensions the contemporaneous event; andmode 2--a previously-recorded event can be displayed on the displaydevice simultaneous with a user viewing in three dimensions thecontemporaneous event.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the monocularcomponents include a focus mechanism for focusing images viewed throughthe image viewing end of the monocular components.
 3. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the control means includes forward and reverse videoviewing controls.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the means forcontrolling includes a zoom control.
 5. The device of claim 1, whereinthe camera further comprises a removable memory storage unit for storingthe compressed video images.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein thecamera further comprises means for transmitting data video images offthe camera.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein the display is a liquidcrystal display.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein the memory storageunit is random access memory (RAM).
 9. The device of claim 1, whereinthe display is remote of the image viewing end of the binoculars. 10.The device of claim 1, wherein the display is rotatably attached to thedigital video camera.
 11. The device of claim 1, wherein the digitalvideo camera further comprises a solar power converter for convertingsolar rays into electrical energy for powering the digital video camera.12. The device of claim 2, wherein the focusing mechanism is anautofocus mechanism for focusing on targeted images.
 13. The device ofclaim 2, wherein the focusing mechanism is a manual focus mechanism forfocusing on targeted images.
 14. The device of claim 3, wherein theforward and reverse viewing controls are multi-speed video viewingcontrols.
 15. The device of claim 5, wherein the removable memorystorage unit is a PC card.
 16. The device of claim 11, wherein the solarpower converter is remotely located from the digital video camera andelectrically connected to the digital video camera.
 17. A hand-held unitcomprising:binoculars having a pair of monocular components, eachcomponent having an image viewing end and an image receiving end anddefining a line-of-sight, the binoculars providing three-dimensionalevent viewing from the image viewing end; and a digital video cameramounted to the binoculars with the camera lens' line-of-sight.approximately parallel to the lines-of-sight of the monocularcomponents, the digital video camera; comprising:a receiving lens forreceiving images; a removable digital memory storage unit; a displaydevice mounted on an exterior surface of the digital video camera; aprocessing system for generating compressed digital motion video imagesof said received images, storing the compressed digital motion videoimages in the removable digital memory storage unit and displaying thereceived motion video images on the display device; and means forcontrolling the generating, storing and displaying of the motion videoimages, the digital video camera and the display device being arrangedrelative to the binoculars so that the following modes of operation arepossible: mode 1--an event can be recorded contemporaneous with a userviewing in three dimensions the contemporaneous event; and mode 2--apreviously-recorded event can be displayed on the display devicesimultaneous with a user viewing in three dimensions the contemporaneousevent.
 18. The device of claim 17, wherein the removable memory storageunit is removable from a location internal to the hand-held unit. 19.The device of claim 18, wherein the removable memory storage unit is aPC card.
 20. A hand-held unit comprising:binoculars having a pair ofmonocular components, each component having an image viewing end and animage receiving end and defining a line-of-sight, the binocularsproviding three-dimensional event viewing from the image viewing end;and a digital video camera mounted to the binoculars with the cameralens' line-of-sight approximately parallel to the lines-of-sight of themonocular components, the digital video camera comprising:a receivinglens for receiving images; a digital memory storage unit integral withthe hand-held unit; a display device mounted on an exterior surface ofthe digital video camera; a processing system for generating compresseddigital motion video images of said received images, storing thecompressed digital motion video images in the memory storage unit anddisplaying the received motion video images on the display device; meansfor controlling the generating, storing and displaying of the motionvideo images, the digital video camera and the display device beingarranged relative to the binoculars so that the following modes ofoperation are possible: mode 1--an event can be recorded contemporaneouswith a user viewing in three dimensions the contemporaneous event; andmode 2--a previously-recorded event can be displaced on the displaydevice simultaneous with a user viewing in three dimensions thecontemporaneous event; and a solar power converter for converting solarrays into electrical energy for powering the components of the digitalvideo camera.
 21. The device of claim 20, wherein the solar powerconverter is remotely located from the digital video camera andelectrically connected to the digital video camera.
 22. A hand-held unitcomprising:binoculars having a pair of monocular components, eachcomponent having an image viewing end and an image receiving end anddefining a line-of-sight, the binoculars providing three-dimensionalevent viewing from the image viewing end; a display device remote of theimage viewing end of the binoculars; and a digital video camera mountedto the binoculars with the camera lens' line-of-sight approximatelyparallel to the lines-of-sight of the monocular components, the digitalvideo camera comprising:a receiving lens for receiving images; a digitalmemory storage unit integral with the hand-held unit; a processingsystem for generating compressed digital motion video images of saidreceived images, storing the compressed digital motion video images inthe memory storage unit and displaying the received motion video imageson the display device; and means for controlling the generating, storingand displaying of the motion video images, the digital video camera andthe display device being arranged relative to the binoculars so that thefollowing modes of operation are possible: mode 1--an event can berecorded contemporaneous with a user viewing in three dimensions thecontemporaneous event: and mode 2--a previously-recorded event can bedisplayed on the display device simultaneous with a user viewing: inthree dimensions the contemporaneous event.